Google’s Android 9 is a ‘Pie’ baked with many surprise ingredients

CIO Bulletin

August 09, 2018

Android Pie is coming first to its Google Pixel users and to other Android devices by the end of this fall. The new Android 9’s software has more advanced features than what was expected, and one of the biggest selling points is its use of artificial intelligence to maximize battery life.

The AI in Android Pie provides users a streamlined experience by learning their preferences over time. “From predicting your next task so you can jump right into the action you want to take, to prioritizing battery power for the apps you use most… Android 9 adapts to the ways you like to use your phone,” says Sameer Samat, VP of product management at Android, in a blog post.

Android Pie also includes tools that cut down the time spent by users on their smartphones. Google terms this new control mechanism as “digital wellbeing” and says, “Despite the useful time we spend on our phones, many of us wish we could disconnect more easily and free up time for other things.” Digital Wellbeing functions similar to the most recent iOS update – which allows users to set time limits on apps they majorly use.

The other cool features include: a rotate button which appears on the screen when you need to switch between landscape and portrait mode; enhanced Bluetooth pairing which allows users to connect up to 5 devices and switch between these devices seamlessly; lockdown mode to temporarily shutdown fingerprint and face authentication on the lock screen; and the new and helpful accessibility menu.